Region – Speyside – 46% ABV
Having one of the more difficult distillery names to pronounce, Craigellachie is a massive distillery located in the distillery-rich Speyside region of Scotland – just a few miles from the Aberlour distillery.
This powerhouse produces 4.1 million litres of spirit per year (!!). After having toured the distillery this past May, I was surprised to see more references to the Dewars blend throughout the distillery as opposed to references to the actual distillery name itself. Then I reminded myself that the purpose of this production house was not for Single Malt (even though they just released some age statement whiskies – 13, 17, 19 & 23 years old). No, the purpose of Craigellachie is to provide malt whisky for your various Dewars products.
If you ever find yourself in Scotland, be sure to check out the Craigellachie distillery. Its massive production house factory-like feel acts as a great counterpoint to more classic style distilleries such as GlenDronach, Aberlour, Glenmorangie and many others. After your visit to the distillery, head over to the Craigellachie Hotel for a dram or four.
On Advent Calendar Day # 8, we’ve got another malt bottled by Weymss Malts. And wouldn’t you know it? It’s a Craigellachie.
This one is titled “Dark Treacle Fondant.” Have a think on that name while we pour the whisky into our glasses.
One the nose — Oh, that name is so suggestive. It smells of cake fondant! There’s even this waxy-like texture in the nose and the scents start off with dark chocolate and toasted brazil nuts.
I am then hit by the smell of sweet barbecue sauce on the grill on the day you re-open your outside cooking apparatus. Hints of licorice and hazelnut nougut rubbed with confectioners sugar.
In the mouth — Highly decedent stuff. While the mouthfeel is not super thick, the flavors sure are.
Let the laundry list begin: Molasses, Nutella, dark chocolate, rubber tires, burnt applesauce, old-school lickable stamps (the sticky side), fruit cake, candied orange peels, cloves, on and on, and on and on, and on and on (was that last bit grammatically correct? Was any of this grammatically correct?)
A little spice at the back of the throat: tell-tale sign of sherry butt matured whisky.
Finish — Really just a fading version o the favors I go on the palate.
In sum — If you like your sherried whiskies, the one would be right up your alley. It ticks all the boxes. The more I drink Craigellachie, the more I like it.